Kate
Certified Tutor
Undergraduate Degree: Elon University - Bachelors, English, Communications
reading, writing, knitting, baking, running
British Literature
College English
Comparative Literature
Expository Writing
High School English
Homework Support
Other
Study Skills
Study Skills and Organization
What might you do in a typical first session with a student?
I would first identify the specific things they struggle with, as well as the type of learner they are, so that my support is as targeted and personalized as possible.
How can you help a student become an independent learner?
It's important to develop good study habits and to reinforce them. Together we can figure out what techniques are most effective, and how to put them into practice when we aren't meeting.
How would you help a student stay motivated?
It's hard to be motivated about a subject that you struggle with; however, strong skills will carry over from their better subjects, and we can learn to apply them to trouble areas. If we highlight their strengths, and use them to address weaknesses, they will feel more confident (and therefore motivated) in this area.
If a student has difficulty learning a skill or concept, what would you do?
If it becomes a stressful situation, I would encourage them to take a break and circle back to it later, when they are more open to it. In the meantime, I would go over a similar, easier concept that could pave the way to understanding more difficult ideas.
How do you help students who are struggling with reading comprehension?
It's important to review the material slowly, and to make sure there is understanding at every step of the process. Say we had a Shakespearean sonnet: I would suggest we work through it line by line, defining words and phrases. Then we can read it out loud for better understanding, and finally process it in larger chunks and then the whole to find the deepest meaning of the piece.
What strategies have you found to be most successful when you start to work with a student?
I want to first know who they are as a student: what are their strengths and weaknesses, how they learn best, and what their study habits are like. Then I can tailor my technique to their personal needs.
How would you help a student get excited/engaged with a subject that they are struggling in?
It is admittedly difficult to muster enthusiasm for a subject that gives you trouble; however, every student has their strengths, and those can always be applied to other subjects. It's crucial to make trouble areas accessible through personalized techniques that utilize the student's skills and interests.